Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-10-16

trump cara TO pay LOT mlscnlef; anQ they
were not without E most unpleasant effect
upon Melsnie.
"Hilda Tremsyne!" she repeated in a
breathless voice, as her color changed.
Did Lonsdele know when they parted
that this enterprising young lady was
going to India with him in the same ship?
II so, why did he conceal his knowl-
edge, and why ONT the fact in his last
letter?
To avoid annoying her, as prudence
and confidence suggested, If that was his
real reason, which Uncle Grimshaw was
acute enough, by tOrturing insinuation to
render cloudy, vague, disquietlDg and vile.
"If she is engaged to Mr.. Musgrave,
what is she doing on board that Indian
steamer" asked Melsnie, all ignorant
that the fair Hllda only went so far as
Port Said.
"Wno told you che was engaged to any
one?"
Montague Lonsdale."
"Ot course, to throw dust in your eyes,
poor fool; or her marriage, as in msny
other instances, may have been broken Of
ANY way, the name of her father, the gen
eral, appears also among the psssengers.n
Melanie became silent, and the strange
coincidence gave her food Tor much
thought, especially after she convinced
herself-Which she did-bY perUsing the
list of passengers in the Pagoda; and it
was equally patent to her that Montague
LonsdaIe had never referred to the mys-
ferrous presence OF Hilda on board.
For 8 time it stuDg MelGnie to the
heart; but still she hoped it might be ex-
planned away by his next letter which she
expected from the Point de Gale. Mean
while, however, the episode was one out
of which Uncle Grimshsw was artful
enough to make the most and worst. act
ing upon hints from Chillington Park;
but ere long Melenie had more pressing
notwithstanding trou 0les - nearer 81
hand to occupy her mind.
she did not see much of her friend Amy
Brendon just now; doubtless the latter
was full Of her own hapE mess aad the
MusgraYe, and Melanie rather liked to be
alone.
Alone, that she might be free to frame
excuses for Lonsdsle's silence in the
matter of Hilda Tremayne, that she might
think OF him uninterruptedly IS much as
she chose, and look forward with growing
and happy confidence to the time OF his
return; but also, how much had he inev-
itably to pass through ia the way Of dan
ger from the risks CT war and most
pestiIential climate, ere that day came
Melanie seemed now to be no longer g
girl, but woman; one with an heritage
OF pain, with something OF humiliation
and desolatiOn IN her eyes at times, while
striving to give all her attention To the
studies Of DICK, to relieve Mr.. Grim
sha WIS pocket as much as possible; and
Dick, feeling himself somewhat of 8 MIL
tlOnsire, with Lonedale's sovereigne, had
invested in boxes OF gloves end perfumes
for meIsnie, in fine meerschaum fer
Reggie, and new and most Respondent
collar 10 BingO, 10 whom he discovered
Uncle GrimshaW surreptitiously admins
tering must vicious kick when the poor
animal was merely sitting On mat out
side the door, and sGraping at the latter
with two little impa lent paws, as rapidly
as they were WOntto stratCh into the holes
Of rabbits and rats.
Dick had never forgotten who il was
thai some time before this had made
away with all his RABBITS aad white nice,
and vowed vengeance. He despised the
adjunct Of q hedgehog on this occasion, and
with no small skill cOntriVed 10 introduce
sn entire WaSps' nest in close vicinity to
his affecsionare uncle's bed, with sting
ing result which that parsonage was IN
likely TO forget 30 his dying Gay.
CHAPTER XXIV-THE DESPATCH BOX.
''No letter for me-, uncle-nO letter for
me?' again asked meiGnie, with bag
gard snd aoXiOuS expression OF face, az
Mr.. Grlmsnaw, after Investigating the
contents Of his new institution, the letter
bag, or despatch box, rather, carefully
relockirg it, and consigned tne key to
his pocket.
"None, regret to say" he replied
with perfect GOODNESS, and then, spread
ing a napkin, applied himself to mis- break
fast, beginning with pate de foie grss.
"What can have happened?" exclaimed
Melanie, looking about her with be-
Wildered air.
"Thac which so often happens, especi-
ally with soldiers and Sailors" ssid Mr..
Grimshaw, as G malicious smile spread
over his face and seemed to ripple up to
the summit Of his bald, shining pate;
'your friend Captain LonsdRIe has gone
far away, and, like most men Of his kind,
has many modes OF getting over thSt
separation which you feel 80 hard to
endure. He has comrades, duties to at
tend to, change Of scene, amusements,
pleasures-a shining stream Of life TO
fiat upon; but you, and women like you,
who are compelled to stay at home, must
stifle all such thoughts IS impossible
these regrets for selfish forgetfulness
amid the tame surroundings where, per-
haps, you have once been so happy-par-
suing me same vapid occupations aud
seeing the same persons, while the man
but We won't talk Of him." said Mr..
resping up his horn-like Sue
tufts aud feeling rather pleased with his
own eloquence. after putting poor Ions
dale's last letter, unopened, into the fire.
"How can you say those things, IN
cle?" asked Melanie, with difficulty re-
her tears, and reading strange
Of mistrust in the eyes of
Reggie-mistrust OF Mr.. GrimshsW.
Absence is said to make the heart
grow fonder," resumed the latter; SHUT
I believe that enough of it will tend TO
rather than deeper regard"
"How cruelty practical you are" said
Melsnie, in low voice.
II Lonsdale had written from tn Point
de Gale, his letter must have miscarried,
she thought, and she must now have pa-
thence till he reached Calcutta.
MILITARY men are, no doubt, very odd,"
said Aunt Chillington, who had come to
spend few days st the cottage, with the
view Ct influencing her niece. ave know
not, but he may have a wife already-like
that wretch Montressor, of the same reg
iment! I daressy every man in it has a
couple, at lesst," she added, as il refer